ENC 1101-B3 & B4: Writing for Discovery

Every one is given a chance in life to do what they want with their lives. Some people make the right choice, some make the wrong choice. James knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life and he was determined to do anything to get what he wanted. James was 18 and worked for a living. He had a few friends who had a band and he really admired them. His girlfriend was always bugging him to get a band and pursue his dream.

“Why aren’t you ever looking for a band to play in James?” Lara asked me with a disappointed drone. “You are so good at guitar I can’t understand why you don’t start a band.” As I sat in my recliner I pondered that very same question. “Why wasn’t I in a band?!”

He always wanted to be in his friend mike’s band. Their name was human pollution, and they were really big around his area. Almost everyone from the west coast of Florida to the east coast loved mike’s band. His friend Leroy was in Mike’s band and he was the lead guitarist.

As I thought about it I wished I hadn’t turned down my chance to be in mikes band. “Damn that Leroy!” I thought. Leroy and mike are my best friends but Leroy is taking what should be mine. I’m still happy for him, but if he ever quit I am definitely in that band. Leroy was in the band because James had passed up his opportunity to be in mike’s band a long time ago.

Due to his situation in Florida he decided it was time to move. He wasn’t going anywhere in Jacksonville and he knew it. “Once I move to New Mexico I'm sure I’ll meet some cool dudes there. “It’s all a matter of time, no big deal.” I thought. “I’m still young.”

I moved in on a Saturday and still had a lot of stuff to get done. I got a call later that evening. “It’s mike!” I thought. “Thank god he called me I'm so bored!” “Dude we are having a party on the 13th that you need to come to.” “Seeing how it’s the 11th and I am going back on the 13th to get more stuff I guess I’ll go.”

I left for Florida the next day and drove the whole way there. In less than two days he arrived in Jacksonville Florida. James drove the whole way there by himself. “The car needs a new belt and some coolant but I don’t want to change it now.” 3 hours later I am on the side of the road in Texas with a broken down car. “What luck I have!” “I knew my laziness would catch up with me one day, too bad today had to be the day.”

Randall showed up at about 430 in the afternoon and woke me up from one of the best naps I had ever taken. “Where do you want it?” he asked. “What!!!” I didn’t know who was there; he could have been some vagrant come to rape me. “The coolant?” “Oh, oh, put it over there I’ll put it in myself.” I thought he was going to do it, what an ass. After an hour or so of talking we parted ways and I was on my way.

I arrived in Jacksonville at six thirty. “I am only a half hour early and I still have to get showered!” I cried. “I guess I will just go the way I am.” Little did I know it was a surprise party for my going away and all of my best friends were going to be there.

I showed up at seven thirty, fashionably late as usual, because I needed to eat. “Surprise!” thirty people screamed as loud as they could. Seeing as how caught of guard I looked, it only amplified my feelings of astonishment. “I can’t believe you all came to hang out with me one last time before I leave. You guys are definitely the best friends I could ask for.”

Everyone gathered around me and the music turned on. As we drank I knew I was going to have to drive home. "James you should really stop drinking for a while" mike told me. I didn’t listen however and continued to drink. What does he know anyways?

Human pollution showed up and played all of their songs. Tons of people showed up to watch them play. The night was incredible, but I knew it was time to go. I left the party early. Lara stopped me and gave me a look. She said "James you can’t leave you’ve had way too much. Stay here." I left regardless.

I left early enough to beat the sun rising over Jacksonville Beach. I must have blacked out because I can’t remember what happened until I woke up.

"What is that?" I cried out. It was gaping and had blood all over it. "Did I hit something last night? I can’t remember I must have blacked out." there was a two foot dent in my car's hood. I quickly washed it off and went inside to think about the night before.

I immediately got a phone call from mike. “James, we may need you to take Leroy’s place in the band.” Mike said as I cried out for joy. “Why” I asked. “You have to get to the hospital quick. It’s Leroy he’s been in a career crippling accident. I could not believe what I was hearing. “Could this be really happening to me?” I asked myself. “Who would do such a thing, especially to one of my friends?!” "Why are you so stupid James?! How could have left the party and not even think about the consequences!” I could not remember for the life of me what had happened the night before after I left the party. “Could I take Leroy’s place knowing that I hit him? Would he ever forgive me?”

As I rushed to the hospital in my battered car I cried to myself. If I did this I won’t be able to go on. I would rather die than hurt on of my friends. Arriving at the hospital was the first time I had ever had to lie to Mike. He looked at my car hood and asked “what the hell happened to your car?! What did you hit?!” he belted out. I was forced to think of something quick. I hadn’t thought of whether I was going to tell him I blacked out and I didn’t know, or that I hit a dog. In a rush I told him I had hit a dog and not to worry about it. I can’t believe he bought it. If I had hit a dog it was no ordinary dog for sure.

"Leroy looks terrible" I thought out loud. "What happened to his arm?" He was missing an arm and was still in a coma. I cried in mike’s arms. "He will be okay James, he will live." But I couldn’t live with that. Lara came and saw the aftermath and couldn’t believe her eyes. I told her the same thing I told mike. I’m glad they were so close to me and believed me, but I wish they hadn’t because I couldn’t stand lying to them.

It had been five days later, when I had to spill my guts. Everyone was there too. I told them I had blacked out somewhere on the way home and that I don’t know what the dent in my car was from. No one could believe what I was telling them. Everyone was confused. No one could grasp the fact that it may be my fault. Leroy just stared at me in shock.

“So you’re saying you washed the blood off your car? The only evidence that could have helped you, you washed off in a rush? I don’t know how strong your case is son.” Jeremy, my attorney, said with a low dismal sound to his voice. “You may have to plead vehicular manslaughter if you want any leniency in this case. Other wise you are looking at 25 years in jail if not more.” “This can’t happen to me. I won’t let it.” I thought.
“Just keep looking for evidence and get back to me. I can’t stand living in jail.”

”Will this ever end?” it was only a week into the case and it had already felt like an eternity. Without any notice Dr. Duno burst in the court room and yelped “I have evidence that can save this man’s life.” Not only my life would be spared but my relationship with my friend would be saved. The doctor had saved some paint off of Leroy’s wounds and tested it. It tested negative in my case and my life was spared.

Everyone looked to me in amazement and screamed out for joy. It wasn’t me and they could trust me again. Still, no one could believe what had happened i am just glad it wasn’t me.

They never found out who did but they were sure glad James didn’t. Later that year they found out that James had, in fact, hit a dog. The dog lived but sustained a leg injury that healed completely. The dog was 280 lbs and 6 feet long. His name was baby.

James took Leroy’s spot in the band with no regret and they had major label success touring the world in search of new things to do. They always took Leroy along with them seeing as how he was a part of the band at one point and deserved as much credit as James.